Arousal and Cognition: Memory for Color Versus Black and White Multimedia Presentation

Summary

It was hypothesized that the incidence of reminiscence over one week would be greater for color as opposed to black and white multimedia presentation. This hypothesis was tested in 52 undergraduate nursing students (50 female, two male, age 19–25 years), who were randomly assigned to a slide-tape presentation in either color or black and white followed by an immediate versus seven day retention (comprehension) measure. Results supported the prediction (p < .05), with greater incidence of reminiscence being obtained in the color over black/white presentation condition. The results may be contrasted with previous work showing little or no effect of color on such complex learning. It is argued that the present approach to color and media effects emphasizing arousal and information processing may be fruitful and might well be extended to individual difference analyses, including a proposal for the individualization of instruction through arousal X treatment interactions.